JP2005165452A - Information processor, client terminal equipment, information processing method, its program and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To arbitrarily designate a range, and to attain arithmetic processing to information included in the range even at the time of targeting document data without the concept of a cell in a spreadsheet application. <P>SOLUTION: A business form server 100 inputs a calculation method designation information showing a calculation method related with selection range information showing a selection range in business form data and information belonging to the selection range of the business form data, and extracts numeric values in the business form data belonging to the selection range based on the information related with information arrangement in the business form data and the selection range information. Then, the business form server 100 performs the calculation processing of a calculation method shown by the calculation method designation information to the extracted numeric values. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for selecting an arbitrary range from, for example, form data and performing an operation on data belonging to the selected range.

  Forms generally used in electronic form systems that overlay input data information on a form and display it as an image or print it are displayed in the part that the form designer thought necessary when designing the form. A total value or the like is displayed and output in advance.

  However, in order for a general terminal user to obtain a calculation result other than the pre-output total value or the like, 1. Select the part for which you want to obtain the calculated value 2. Output the text to a text file, etc. 3. Load into spreadsheet application The operation of the procedure such as setting the calculation formula on the spreadsheet application is required, which is very complicated.

  In spreadsheet applications, the display relationship between forms (spreadsheets) and input data (numeric values) is similar to the above electronic form system. However, calculations between cells in spreadsheet applications are based on numerical information contained in cells. Since the calculation is performed in units and the concept like cells cannot be used in the combined display form data created by the electronic form system, the electronic form system can easily identify the area and specify the numerical value in the area. It was difficult to perform the operation.

  Also, if the data for which you want to obtain calculation results on a form is not in a continuous position, or if you want to obtain calculation results across pages, you will need to format the data after reading it with a spreadsheet application. End up.

  In order to reduce the complexity, Patent Document 1 discloses a method of providing a spreadsheet function with a subwindow in a document processing system.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 05-233617

  However, in the document management system described in Patent Document 1, the procedure is simplified rather than via a text file or the like, but it is necessary to set a calculation formula or the like on a spreadsheet. Therefore, it is convenient in the case of routine processing, but it can be said that it is still complicated when only a few calculations are performed.

  In addition, since data extraction is performed by specifying a frame line, the degree of freedom is low as a method for specifying a calculation target region.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems. For example, even for form data that does not have the concept of a cell in a spreadsheet application, an operation is performed on information included in the range by arbitrarily specifying a range. The purpose is to enable processing.

  In order to achieve such an object, an information processing apparatus according to the present invention provides a calculation method indicating a calculation method for selection range information indicating a selection range in an image page and information belonging to the selection range of the image page. Information input means for inputting designation information, information extraction means for extracting information in the image page belonging to the selection range based on information relating to information arrangement in the image page and the selection range information, and the information extraction Computation processing means for performing calculation processing of the calculation method indicated by the calculation method designation information with respect to the information extracted by the means.

  The client terminal device of the present invention is a client terminal device connected to the information processing device via a communication network, the receiving unit receiving a calculation result by the calculation processing unit from the information processing device, and the calculation result Output method setting means for setting the output method, and output control means for outputting the calculation result using the output means by the output method set by the output method setting means.

  An information processing method of the present invention is an information processing method by an information processing apparatus, and shows a calculation method for selection range information indicating a selection range in an image page and information belonging to the selection range of the image page. An information input step of inputting calculation method designation information, an information extraction step of extracting information in the image page belonging to the selection range based on the information relating to the information arrangement in the image page and the selection range information, A calculation processing step of performing calculation processing of the calculation method indicated by the calculation method designation information with respect to the information extracted in the information extraction step.

  A program according to the present invention causes a computer to execute the information processing method. The computer-readable recording medium of the present invention is characterized in that the program is recorded.

  According to the present invention, the information belonging to the selection range is extracted based on the selection range information and the information related to the information arrangement in the image page, and the calculation process is performed on the extracted information. For example, even for form data that does not have the concept of a cell in a spreadsheet application, it is possible to arbitrarily specify a range and perform an operation on information included in the range.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an electronic form system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The connection configuration of various terminals on the network in FIG. 1 is merely an example, and it is needless to say that various configurations can be taken according to applications and purposes.

  The form server 100 has a transmission / reception function capable of communication connection with the client PCs 101 and 102 via the network. For example, as an example of the system, the form server 100 not only has a form data management and generation function, but also has a function as a Web server for outputting data relating to the generated form, and the client PCs 101 and 102 are general-purpose. It is conceivable to have a configuration having a browser application. In this case, the form server 100 uses the markup language based on a combination of HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language), XML (eXtensible Markup Language) and a style sheet, etc., as output data for the form generated by combining the form form and form data. It is a function for generating the display data using the, and is transmitted in response to a Get request for an image page (file such as HTML) from a browser of the client PC 101 or 102.

  The client PC 101 is a client terminal used by a person who views a form and acquires a calculation result. The client PC 101 can send and receive data to and from the form server 100 via the network 103.

  The client PC 102 is a client terminal used by a person who views a form and acquires a calculation result. The client PC 102 can send and receive data to and from the form server 100 via the network 103.

  As described above, as an embodiment, the client PCs 101 and 102 are configured to be able to communicate with the Web server function of the form server 100 from the general-purpose browser using the TCP / IP protocol or the HTTP protocol, for example. Can be considered.

  Next, the hardware configuration of the form server 100 of FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of various terminals of the electronic form system according to the present embodiment.

  In FIG. 2, the CPU 201 comprehensively controls each device connected to the system bus 204. The ROM 203 or the external memory 211 stores an operating system (OS) that is a control program of the CPU 201 and programs for realizing various functions to be described later of each server or each client.

  The RAM 202 functions as a main memory, work area, temporary save area, and the like for the CPU 201.

  The input controller 205 controls input from the input unit 209. Examples of the input unit 209 include a pointing device such as a keyboard and a mouse in a terminal such as a server or a client. Moreover, in a printing apparatus etc., a touch panel, a button, a switch etc. are mentioned.

  The display controller 206 controls display on the display unit 210. Examples of the display unit 210 include a CRT and a liquid crystal.

  An external memory controller (MC) 207 controls access to an external memory 211 that stores a boot program, various applications, font data, user files, edit files, printer drivers, and the like. In addition, various tables and parameters for realizing various functions of each server or each client are stored. Examples of the external memory 211 include a hard disk (HD), a flexible disk (FD), a compact flash (R) connected to a PCMCIA card slot via an adapter, and smart media.

  The communication I / F controller 208 executes communication control processing with an external device via the network 103.

  A program 212 for realizing the present invention is recorded in the external memory 211 and is executed by the CPU 201 by being loaded into the RAM 202 as necessary. Further, the form file 213 used by the program 212 according to the present invention is stored in the external memory 211, and detailed description thereof will be described later.

  Needless to say, the program 212 for realizing the present invention includes a Web server function as one embodiment. In this case, the CPU 201 generates the output data of the form, converts it into a JPEG or GIF image form that can be browsed by the browser, and generates an image page for browser display together with information such as preset tags. is there.

  The hardware configuration of the client PC 101 is the same as that of the form server 100. However, the program 212 includes a client module for displaying a form and is different from that of the form server 100. Further, the form file 213 is different in that only the part necessary for display is received through communication with the form server 100 and the client PC 101 does not originally hold it.

  With the display of the form, the client PC 101 can select a range using a rectangular broken line, which will be described later, or attach a tag to the form.

  The form file 213 is form display data, is composed of one or a plurality of files, and contains one or a plurality of pages. Within the form server 100, the same type of a plurality of form files 213 are managed as a group, and each form file 213 is called a generation within the group.

  Next, a basic processing flow of display data calculation result display in the electronic form system will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a basic processing flow of display data calculation result display by the electronic form system according to the present embodiment.

  As described above, the client PC 101, the client PC 102, and the form server 100 are connected to each other via the network 103. Then, the client PC 101 and the client PC 102 execute various processes related to electronic form display via various operation screens provided from the form server 100. One example will be described below.

  First, in step S <b> 301, the client PC 101 transmits information specifying a form including form ID information and the like to the form server 100 via the operation screen provided from the form server 100.

  In step S302, the form server 100 receives information specifying the form transmitted by the client PC 101 in step S301, extracts only the part necessary for display on the client PC 101 from the corresponding form file 213, and sends it to the client PC 101. Send.

  In step S <b> 303, the client PC 101 displays the form on the display unit 210 using the part of the form file 213 transmitted from the form server 100. The user selects an arbitrary area of the displayed form by operating a pointing device or the like. As a specific example of the region selection method, as shown in FIG. 6, the range can be selected by surrounding a desired range with a rectangular broken line 601 displayed by a mouse drag operation or the like (hereinafter, The range selected in this way is called a selection range). A plurality of selection ranges can be selected within one page.

  In the present embodiment, such an arbitrary range selection operation can be performed over a plurality of pages. At that time, as shown in FIG. 6, by selecting a range for only one page and specifying “all pages” in the context menu 602 for the other pages, all pages included in the form file are selected. It is possible to set a state in which the corresponding range is selected. Although not shown in FIG. 6, it is of course possible to select the page range numerically and select the same range.

  Furthermore, by selecting the arbitrary range of each page included in the form file for one generation by the above method and designating each generation for the other generations, the corresponding range for all generations. It is also possible to set a state where is selected. As used herein, the “generation” refers to a monthly form, for example, a monthly form for January, a monthly form for February,... If you want to calculate the statistics for one year of the year, the report is for 12 generations.

  In step S303, a calculation method for each selected range and a display method for the calculation result are designated. As shown in FIG. 6, the user can specify a calculation method on a context menu 602, for example. Here, “total” is designated. This means that it is designated to calculate the sum of the values included in the selection range. In addition, as a calculation result display method, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, it is specified that the calculation result is displayed in a balloon in the vicinity of the selection range, or a sticky note indicating the calculation result is attached to the display page. Can be mentioned.

  In subsequent step S <b> 305, the client PC 101 acquires the selection range, calculation method, and calculation result display method set by the user in step S <b> 304 and stores them in the RAM 202.

  Subsequently, in step S 306, the client PC 101 transmits the selection range and calculation method stored in the RAM 202 in step S 305 to the form server 100 via the network 103. If the page range or generation range is designated by the user in step S304, the designation information is also transmitted.

  In step S307, the form server 100 performs a calculation process using the received selection range and calculation method, and the form file 213 corresponding to the form file portion transmitted to the client PC 101 in step S302. Is transmitted to the client PC 101 via the network 103. A detailed description of this calculation process will be described later.

  In step S308, the client PC 101 displays the received calculation result using the calculation result display method acquired in step S306. A detailed description of the calculation result display process will be described later.

  Next, calculation processing (step S307) by the above-described form server 100 will be described with reference to FIG. In the following, description will be made by citing the corresponding ones of the configurations shown in FIG. 2, but here, description will be given on the assumption that all of them are the configurations of the form server 100.

  Here, assuming that the selection range, page range, generation range, and calculation method are transmitted from the client PC 101 by the transmission processing in step S306, the CPU 201 of the form server 100 transmits the network 103 in steps S401 to S403. The selection range, page range, and generation range received are acquired. Next, the CPU 201 acquires a list of form files 213 corresponding to the acquired generation range, and stores the list in the RAM 202.

  Subsequently, in step S404, the CPU 201 initializes an area for holding the calculation result of the RAM 202. The calculation result holds both the page unit and the entire calculation range.

  Steps S405 to S414 are repeated for all generations specified in the generation range. Steps S406 to S413 are repeated for all pages designated as the page range. Steps S407 to S412 are repeated for all the selected ranges in one page.

  Subsequently, in step S408, the CPU 201 reads data for one page from the form file 213. The data for one page of the form file 213 includes page overlay information, page layout information, line layout information, and text information.

  The page overlay information stores the ruled line of the form and the fixed character string information in a vector format. The page layout information stores information on what lines are arranged at what intervals from which position on the page. The line layout information stores information such as font, decoration, and pitch for characters in the line. The text information stores a record of text to be displayed.

  The CPU 201 calculates the coordinates of each line using the page layout information, assigns the line layout information and text information, and creates the internal structure of the form display data. Furthermore, the coordinates of the character part are calculated from the overlay information and added to the internal structure of the form display data.

  Subsequently, in step S409, the CPU 201 extracts a character string existing in the selection range. That is, the selection range received from the client PC 101 includes information indicating the left and right limits of the X coordinate and the upper and lower limits of the Y coordinate on the display page of the selection range surrounded by the rectangular broken line 601 in step S304. Then, the CPU 201 extracts lines included in the upper and lower limits of the Y coordinate of the selected range from the internal structure created in step S408 based on the page layout information of the corresponding page. Then, the CPU 201 calculates, from the font and pitch of the line layout information on the same line, from what character to what character is included in the left limit and right limit of the X coordinate of the selected range, and the text information on the same line Extract the relevant text from. Thus, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to extract data in a form belonging to an arbitrary selection range.

  Subsequently, in step S410, the CPU 201 converts a portion that is valid as a numerical value from the extracted text into a numerical value. The part effective as a numerical value is a single or continuous number, but may be separated by a digit display such as a comma in some cases.

  Subsequently, in step S411, the CPU 201 calculates the numerical value converted in step S410 by the designated calculation method, and stores the calculation result in the area prepared in step S404. For example, in the example of FIG. 6, the sum of all numerical values included in the selected range is calculated, and the calculation result is stored in the prepared area.

  As another calculation method example, when “average” and “this page” in FIG. 6 are selected, the average of all the numerical values included in the selected range is calculated, and “total”, “ When “all pages” is selected, the sum of the numbers included in all pages corresponding to the selected range is calculated, and when “average” and “all pages” are selected, An average of numerical values included in all pages corresponding to the selected range is calculated. These calculation results are stored in preparation.

  The context menu 602 shown in FIG. 6 does not include a generation range designation item. Of course, the context menu 602 further including this designation item is applicable to the present embodiment. It is possible to calculate the sum or average of the numerical values corresponding to the selection range over the generations specified by the item.

  Next, the calculation result display processing by the client PC 101 will be described with reference to FIG. Of course, the client PC 102 can execute the same calculation result display process. In the following, description will be made with reference to the corresponding ones of the configurations shown in FIG. 2, but here, description will be made on the assumption that all of them are the configurations of the client PC 101.

  The client PC 101 receives the calculation result transmitted from the form server 100 in step S501. Subsequently, in step S502, the CPU 201 of the client PC 101 determines whether the calculation result display method stored in the RAM 202 in step S305 is a tag or a balloon.

  When the calculation result display method is balloon, as shown in FIG. 7, the CPU 201 creates a balloon window 701 in the vicinity of the selection range in step S503, and displays the calculation result in that window in step S504. The numerical values shown in the balloon window 701 in FIG. 7 are the calculation results based on the calculation method specified in FIG.

  When the calculation result display method is a sticky note, the CPU 201 determines in S506 whether or not to attach a sticky note of the calculation result for that page to each page or whether to attach a calculation result for the entire calculation range to the display page in the RAM 202. Judge based on the stored calculation method. For example, when the calculation method for one page is designated on the context menu 602 of FIG. 6 as in the case where “this page” is selected, it is determined that the calculation result tag is attached to the corresponding page. When a calculation method over a plurality of pages is designated as in the case where “all pages” is selected, it is determined that all the calculation results of the corresponding calculation range are attached to the display page. In the former case, the CPU 201 repeats from step S507 to step S509 for the page range, and performs processing to add a tag to each page. In the latter case, in step S510, the CPU 201 performs processing for adding a tag for only the display page. Step S508 performs the same processing as step S510.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the calculation result is transferred to the clipboard even if it is processed by any of the search result display methods described above, and can be used from other applications.

  Further, the processes in the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 have been described in the form of including functions such as some determination means in the process of the client PC 101 on the client side. However, an HTML file is simply displayed by a browser application, and an event is transmitted from the client PC 101 to the form server 100, so that the server performs processing for realizing each step using a CGI (Common Gateway Interface). It can be realized even with a modification of

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to perform arithmetic processing on a numerical value included in an arbitrary selection range on a form and display the calculation result on a window. Also, it can be attached to a form as a tag.

  Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above, the present invention can take an embodiment as, for example, a system, an apparatus, a method, a program, or a storage medium. The present invention may be applied to a system composed of devices, or may be applied to a device composed of one device (for example, a form in which the form server 100 and the client PC 101 are integrated into one device).

  Another object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium storing software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus stores the storage medium. Needless to say, this can also be achieved by reading and executing the program code stored in.

  In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the program code itself and the storage medium storing the program code constitute the present invention.

  As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a flexible disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

  Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an OS (basic system or operating system) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. Needless to say, a case where the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized by performing part or all of the actual processing and the processing is included.

  Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function is determined based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that the CPU or the like provided in the expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the electronic form system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the hardware constitutions of a form server. It is a figure which shows the basic processing flow of the display data search result display by the electronic form system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the calculation process by a form server. It is a flowchart which shows the calculation result display process by client PC. It is a figure for demonstrating the selection method of a selection range and a calculation method. It is the figure which showed the example of a display of a calculation result.

Explanation of symbols

100 Form server 101, 102 Client PC
103 Network 201 CPU
202 RAM
203 ROM
204 System Bus 205 Input Controller 206 Display Controller 207 External Memory Controller 208 Communication I / F Controller 209 Input Unit 210 Display Unit 211 External Memory 212 Program 213 Form File 601 Selection Range 602 Context Menu 701 Balloon Window

Claims (15)

Information input means for inputting selection range information indicating a selection range in an image page, and calculation method designation information indicating a calculation method for information belonging to the selection range of the image page;
Information extracting means for extracting information in the image page belonging to the selection range based on the information related to the information arrangement in the image page and the selection range information;
An information processing apparatus comprising: calculation processing means for performing calculation processing of the calculation method indicated by the calculation method designation information on the information extracted by the information extraction means.   2. The information according to claim 1, wherein the information related to the information arrangement includes information that defines an arrangement of a row in the image page and information indicating a pitch of the arrangement information in each row of the image page. Information processing device.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the selection range information includes coordinate information indicating the selection range. A file management means for grouping files of the same type among a plurality of files composed of one or a plurality of image pages, and managing files belonging to the same group as generations;
The information input means further inputs generation designation information, and the data extraction means extracts information in the image page belonging to the selection range for each file belonging to the generation indicated in the designation information. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information is numerical information.   5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image page includes data generated as display information using a markup language. 6. An output method setting means for setting an output method of a calculation result by the calculation processing means;
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an output control unit that outputs the calculation result using the output unit by the output method set by the output method setting unit. apparatus.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the calculation result output method includes an output method for displaying the calculation result in the vicinity of the selection range on the image page.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the calculation result output method includes an output method of attaching a tag indicating the calculation result to the image page. A client terminal device connected to the information processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 via a communication network,
Receiving means for receiving a calculation result by the calculation processing means from the information processing apparatus;
Output method setting means for setting the output method of the calculation results;
The client terminal apparatus further comprising: output control means for outputting the calculation result using the output means by the output method set by the output method setting means.   The client terminal device according to claim 10, wherein the calculation result output method includes an output method for displaying the calculation result in the vicinity of the selection range on the image page.   The client terminal apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the calculation result output method includes an output method of attaching a tag indicating the calculation result to the image page. An information processing method by an information processing apparatus,
An information input step of inputting selection range information indicating a selection range in an image page, and calculation method designation information indicating a calculation method for information belonging to the selection range of the image page;
An information extraction step of extracting information in the image page belonging to the selection range based on the information relating to the information arrangement in the image page and the selection range information;
An information processing method comprising: a calculation processing step for performing calculation processing of the calculation method indicated by the calculation method designation information on the information extracted in the information extraction step.   A program for causing a computer to execute the information processing method according to claim 13.   The computer-readable recording medium which recorded the program of Claim 14.

Images